Options to Configure a Printer on an IBM i System

RMTOUTQ

Technote (troubleshooting)

Problem(Abstract)

There are many ways in which a printer might be configured, depending on the type of printer, its capabilities, and how it is attached. This document discusses the most common methods of configuring a printer on an IBM System i.

Resolving the problem

There are many ways in which a printer might be configured; it depends on the type of printer, the capabilities of the printer, and how the printer is attached. This document discusses the most common methods of configuring a printer on an IBM System i and the general requirements for each method. For more specific information on requirements, see the documents listed under each method.

If your printer is attached to the network and is using TCP/IP to connect, the options for configuring the printer are:

o

A Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ)

o

A *LAN 3812 PJL device description

o

A *LAN 3812 SNMP device description

o

A *LAN 3812 IPP device description

o

A *LAN *IPDS device description

For information on ASCII printers from various manufacturers, in particular on whether they can be configured using a *LAN 3812 PJL device description, *LAN 3812 SNMP device description, *LAN 3812 IPP device description, or Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ), refer to the following documents in the Rochester Support Center knowledgebase:

The requirements for all network-attached printers using TCP/IP are that the network adapter is compatible with the printer and it has a static TCP/IP address. The sections on the various options will list some additional requirements for that type of configuration.

1

Remote Output Queue or SNDTCPSPLF and LPR Commands

Support for printing using the TCP/IP Line Printer Requester (LPR) and Line Printer Daemon (LPD) protocols is available in the base code for V2R3M0 (R230) OS/400 and above for the Send TCP/IP Spooled File (SNDTCPSPLF or LPR) command, and in the base code for V3R1M0 (R310) OS/400 and above for Remote Output Queues (RMTOUTQs).

Support for Remote Output Queues, as well as the SNDTCPSPLF and LPR commands, is largely dependent on the internal network interface card (NIC) or external print server used with the printer. Therefore, this column is as much of a statement about the NIC or print server typically shipped with the printer, than it is about the printer itself. If it is unclear whether the NIC, print server, or printer supports LPR/LPD, contact the manufacturer.

For more information on Remote Output Queues, please refer to the following documents:

The term PJL refers to the Printer Job Language protocol from HP. PJL allows for two-way communication with the printer when attached to the LAN using a print server that also supports bidirectional PJL. Support for the PJL print driver is available in the base code for V4R1M0 (R410) OS/400 and above, and was added to V3R7M0 (R370) OS/400 through PTFs.

Support for the PJL print driver is largely dependent on the internal network interface card (NIC) or external print server used with the printer. If it is unclear whether the NIC, print server or printer supports PJL, contact the manufacturer.

For more information on *LAN 3812 PJL device descriptions, refer to the following documents:

The term SNMP refers to Simple Network Management Protocol. SNMP allows for two-way communication with the printer when attached to the LAN using a print server that also supports SNMP. Support for the SNMP print driver is available in the base code for V4R5M0 (R450) OS/400 and above, and was added to V4R3M0 (R430) and V4R4M0 (R440) OS/400 through PTFs.

Support for the SNMP print driver is largely dependent on the internal network interface card (NIC) or external print server used with the printer. If it is unclear whether the NIC, print server or printer supports SNMP, contact the manufacturer.

For more information on *LAN 3812 SNMP device descriptions, refer to the following documents:

The term IPP refers to the Internet Print Protocol. IPP allows for two-way communication with the printer when attached to the LAN using a print server that also supports IPP. Support for the IPP Print Driver is available in the base code for V5R2M0 (R520) OS/400.

Support for the IPP Print Driver is largely dependent on the internal network interface card (NIC) or external print server used with the printer. If it is unclear whether the NIC, print server or printer supports IPP, contact the manufacturer.

For more information on *LAN 3812 IPP device descriptions, refer to the following documents:

The term IPDS refers to the Intelligent Printer Data Stream. IPDS allows for two-way communication with the printer when attached to the LAN, provided the printer has the IPDS feature installed and using an internal print server that allows the IPDS data stream to pass through to the printer. IBM Print Services Facility (PSF/400) is required for network-attached IPDS printers.

For more information on *LAN *IPDS device descriptions, refer to the following documents:

If Your Printer Is Attached to the Network and Using the Lexlink Protocol

The requirement for this configuration is that the printer is attached to a Lexmark network adapter that can use the Lexlink protocol, such as the Lexmark MarkNet XLE or the MarkNet Pro, or that it is a Lexmark printer with an internal Lexmark network card. The Lexlink protocol cannot be routed across networks, so the router would need to be configured to bridge the Lexlink protocol.

For information on configuring *LAN 3812 Lexlink device descriptions, refer to the following document:

The requirements for printing using SNA are that a communications line, controller, and device description are configured for APPC or APPN support. Also, the IBM-supplied subsystems QSNADS and QSYSWRK, the Mail Server Framework job QMSF, and the Object Distribution job QNFTP all must be active. For additional assistance configuring or troubleshooting SNA, contact the Peer queue.

For information on configuration communicating over SNADS, refer to the following documents:

If the printer is twinax attached to a dumb terminal or to a controller, the best way to configure this is to let it autoconfigure. The system value QAUTOCFG must be turned on. The address set for the printer must be available. For a printer attached to a dumb terminal, some additional setup might need to be done on the dumb terminal. If the printer is twinax attached to a remote workstation controller, it will autoconfigure if it is a 5494 controller.

If the printer is attached to a 5294 or 5394 controller, it must be configured manually. For additional assistance configuring a printer on one of the remote workstation controllers, contact the RWS queue.

For ASCII printers, Host Print Transform can be turned on after the device description has been configured. The appropriate Manufacturer Type and Model for the printer must be specified. For IPDS printers, Advanced Function Printing can be turned on if the Print Services Facility (PSF/400) is installed.

For more information on using Host Print Transform with a printer that is twinax-attached to a local or remote workstation controller, or to a network device that emulates a remote workstation controller, please refer to the following document:

If Your Printer Is Attached to a PC An emulation program must be run on the PC to allow the IBM i system (or IBM iSeries system) to print to it. This emulation program can be IBM iSeries Access or some other emulation program that can create a printer session and configure a device on the IBM i system. The type of emulation program used might have its own special requirements, so refer to the documentation for the program. Refer to Rochester Support knowledgebase document # 6163631 for additional information on connection and configuration methods not mentioned here.

For information on printing on a PC running Client Access/400, refer to the following documents:

Depending upon the version of System i Access for Windows (also known as iSeries Access for Windows or Client Access/400 in earlier versions), the printer can be installed on the PC as a network printer or it can be set up under IBM AS/400 NetServer or IBM iSeries NetServer. Refer to the documentation for the version of Client Access or iSeries Access for the requirements.

For information on configuring an AS/400 NetServer or iSeries NetServer print share, refer to the following documents:

If You Are Converting Spooled Files to PDF instead of Printing them to a Printer

The IBM Infoprint Server for iSeries product (5722IP1) that can be used to convert spooled files to Adobe Acrobat PDF format and optionally send the PDF file in an email, store the PDF file in a stream file in the Integrated File System (IFS), store the PDF file is a *USERASCII spooled file, or a combination of these.

For information on configuring a *LAN IPDS device description and PSF Configuration (PSFCFG) object that uses Infoprint Server to convert spooled files to PDF, refer to the following documents: